Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A thermostat comprising: a housing having an electronic display disposed thereon; a rotatable user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user; a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the rotatable user interface component and to the electronic display, the processing system being configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on a tracked rotational input motion, the processing system being further configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for receiving an ambient air temperature, the processing system being still further configured to be in operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of the measured ambient temperature and the setpoint temperature value; wherein said processing system, said electronic display, and said rotatable user interface component are collectively configured such that each of a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided, said first and second modes of operation being in effect at different times; wherein, during said first mode of operation, information is displayed on said electronic display that is representative of said setpoint temperature value as identified by said processing system according to said tracked rotational input motion of the user; wherein, during said second mode of operation, an arrangement of selectable menu items is displayed on said electronic display that are selectable by one or more tracked rotational input motions of the user and one or more user confirmation inputs; wherein said thermostat further comprises a control system for receiving input from a user of said thermostat; and wherein said processing system is configured to enter the thermostat into an away occupancy state based on a first input received from the user via said control system, said processing system being further configured to enter the thermostat into an occupied occupancy state responsive to a second input received from the user via said control system.
The thermostat has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor. The dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature. The processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint. The thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial. Second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection. A user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, which the processor uses to adjust the HVAC schedule.
2. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said tracked rotational input motion of the user causes a different selectable menu item to become visually highlighted as said rotatable user interface component is rotated, a user selection of one of said selectable menu items being established by user confirmation input provided by the user while that selectable menu item is visually highlighted.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, operates such that as the user rotates the dial in menu mode, different menu items become highlighted. The currently highlighted item is selected when the user provides a confirmation input (e.g., pressing the dial).
3. The thermostat of claim 2 , wherein said first input and second input are received via user selection of a corresponding selectable menu item displayed during said second mode of operation.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, and where as the user rotates the dial in menu mode, different menu items become highlighted, and the currently highlighted item is selected when the user provides a confirmation input (e.g., pressing the dial), operates such that the "away" or "occupied" setting can be selected from the menu displayed in the second mode of operation.
4. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said first input comprises a selection of the away occupancy state.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, operates such that a user can directly select an "away" mode from the thermostat's menu.
5. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said control system for receiving input from a user is operable with said rotatable user-interface component.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, operates such that the rotating dial is used for both setting the temperature and for menu navigation/selection.
6. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said first input and second input received from said user comprises a selection of one of the selectable menu items.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, operates such that a user selects menu items to choose the "away" and "occupied" settings.
7. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein graphical information is displayed on said electronic display that is representative of said setpoint temperature.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, displays the target temperature on the display using graphical elements.
8. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein said rotatable user-interface component is further configured to be inwardly pressable in a manner that is detectable by the processing system, and wherein the thermostat is configured to switch from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation in response to an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component applied during said first mode of operation.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, uses a rotating dial that can also be pressed inward. Pressing the dial while in the first mode switches the thermostat into the second mode (menu mode).
9. A thermostat comprising: a housing having an electronic display disposed thereon; a rotatable user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user; a processing system disposed within the housing and coupled to the rotatable user interface component and to the electronic display, the processing system being configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, the processing system being further configured to be in operative communication with one or more temperature sensors for receiving an ambient air temperature, the processing system being still further configured to be in operative communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of the measured ambient temperature and the setpoint temperature value; wherein said processing system, said electronic display, and said rotatable user interface component are collectively configured such that each of a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided, said first and second modes of operation being in effect at different times, the thermostat being swithable from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation in response to an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component applied during said first mode of operation; wherein, during said first mode of operation, information is displayed on said electronic display that is representative of said setpoint temperature value as identified by said processing system according to said tracked rotational input motion of the user; wherein, during said second mode of operation, an arrangement of selectable menu items is displayed on said electronic display that are selectable by one or more tracked rotational input motions of the user and one or more user confirmation inputs; wherein said thermostat further comprises a control system for receiving input from a user of said thermostat; and wherein said processing system is configured to enter the thermostat into an away occupancy state based on a first input received from the user via said control system, said processing system being further configured to enter the thermostat into an occupied occupancy state responsive to a second input received from the user via said control system.
The thermostat has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor. The dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature. The processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint. The thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial. Second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection. The device switches from the first to the second mode by pressing the dial inward. A user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, which the processor uses to adjust the HVAC schedule.
10. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein said first input or second input is received via user selection of a selectable menu item displayed during said second mode of operation.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where the device switches from the first to the second mode by pressing the dial inward, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, allows the "away" or "occupied" setting to be selected as a menu item from the second mode.
11. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein said first input comprises a selection of the away occupancy state.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where the device switches from the first to the second mode by pressing the dial inward, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, allows the "away" setting to be chosen directly from the menu.
12. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein said control system for receiving input from a user is operable with said rotatable user-interface component.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where the device switches from the first to the second mode by pressing the dial inward, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, utilizes the rotating dial as the primary control for both temperature adjustment and menu selection.
13. The thermostat of claim 9 , wherein said rotatable user-interface component is further configured to be inwardly pressable in a manner that is detectable by the processing system, and wherein the thermostat is configured to switch from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation in response to an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component applied during said first mode of operation.
The thermostat, as described where it has a housing with a display, a rotating dial, and a processor, and where the dial tracks rotation by a user to set a target temperature and the processor reads the room temperature from sensors and controls the HVAC system to reach the setpoint, and where the thermostat operates in two modes: first mode shows the target temperature, settable by rotating the dial, and second mode shows a menu of options, selectable by rotating the dial to highlight an item, then confirming the selection, and where the device switches from the first to the second mode by pressing the dial inward, and where a user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied" mode via the menu or other user input, uses a dial that can also be pressed inward, and pressing it triggers a switch from the first mode (temperature display) to the second mode (menu display).
14. A method for control of an HVAC system by a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a housing, a rotatable user-interface component, a processing system, a control system, and an electronic display, said thermostat having first and second modes of operation that are in effect at different times, the method comprising: detecting and tracking rotational movements of the rotatable user-interface component to track at least one rotational input motion of a user; when the thermostat is operating in the first mode of operation: identifying a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion; receiving, from one or more temperature sensors, an ambient air temperature; controlling the HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison between the ambient air temperature and the setpoint temperature value; displaying, on the electronic display, information that is representative of the identified setpoint temperature value; when the thermostat is operating in the second mode of operation: displaying an arrangement of selectable menu items on the electronic display that are selectable by one or more tracked rotational input motions of the user and one or more user confirmation inputs; receiving, via the control system, a first input from a user of the thermostat; entering the thermostat into an away occupancy state, via the processing system, responsive to the first input received from the user of the thermostat; receiving, via the control system, a second input from a user of the thermostat; and entering the thermostat into an occupied occupancy state, via the processing system, responsive to the second input received from the user of the thermostat.
A thermostat controls an HVAC system using a rotating dial, processor, and display. It alternates between two modes. In the first mode, rotating the dial sets the target temperature, the thermostat displays this value, reads the current room temperature, and adjusts the HVAC to reach the target. In the second mode, a menu appears; rotating the dial highlights options, and a user input confirms the choice. Through this menu (or another input method), the user can set the thermostat to "away" or "occupied". The processor then adjusts the HVAC schedule based on this occupancy state.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, when the thermostat is operating in the second mode of operation: visually highlighting different respective ones of the selectable menu items on the electronic display responsive to tracked user rotation of the rotatable user interface component; detecting a user confirmation input; and establishing as a selected menu item the selectable menu item that is visually highlighted when the user confirmation input is detected.
The thermostat method described previously, using a rotating dial, processor, display, and two modes to control an HVAC system, includes, while in the menu mode, visually highlighting menu options as the user rotates the dial. When the user provides a confirmation input (e.g., pressing the dial), the currently highlighted menu option is selected. This facilitates navigation and selection within the menu system.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said selected menu item comprises the first input or the second input received from the user of the thermostat.
The thermostat method described previously, using a rotating dial, processor, display, and two modes to control an HVAC system, and highlighting menu options for selection, operates such that the selected menu item represents either the "away" or "occupied" input from the user. Selecting the appropriate menu item triggers the thermostat to switch to the corresponding state.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said first input comprises a selection of the away occupancy state.
The thermostat method described previously, using a rotating dial, processor, display, and two modes to control an HVAC system, operates such that the user's first input to control occupancy is selecting the "away" state. This action then triggers the thermostat to enter the "away" mode and adjust the HVAC settings accordingly.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said control system for receiving input from a user is operable with said rotatable user-interface component.
The thermostat method described previously, using a rotating dial, processor, display, and two modes to control an HVAC system, and where the user's first input is selecting the "away" state, utilizes the rotating dial itself as the mechanism for receiving user input. Rotating and pressing the dial allows the user to navigate menus and confirm selections.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein said first input and second input received from said user comprises a selection of one of the selectable menu items.
The thermostat method described previously, using a rotating dial, processor, display, and two modes to control an HVAC system, operates such that both the first ("away") and second ("occupied") inputs are received through selecting menu items. This means the user navigates to and selects the desired occupancy state from a menu presented on the display.
20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising switching the thermostat from said first mode of operation to said second mode of operation in response to an inward pressing of said rotatable user-interface component applied during said first mode of operation.
The thermostat method described previously, using a rotating dial, processor, display, and two modes to control an HVAC system, includes switching from the temperature display mode to the menu mode by pressing the rotating dial inward. This action provides a direct and intuitive way to access the thermostat's settings and advanced functions.
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September 19, 2017
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